Tides, Salmon, and Sturgeon: The Columbia River Fishing Forecast for January 2025

As of today, January 12, 2025, the fishing scene on the Columbia River near Portland is looking promising, despite some recent changes in fishing regulations. ### Tidal Report Today's tide times for Vancouver, Columbia River, are as follows: Low tide at 00:21 AM with 0.0 ft, high tide at 4:50 AM with 2.01 ft, low tide at 10:57 AM with 0.57 ft, and high tide at 4:13 PM with 2.97 ft. The best times to fish are typically during the moving tides, either incoming or outgoing, as these periods tend to activate fish feeding behaviors[4]. ### Weather and Daylight Sunrise is at 7:48 AM, and sunset is at 4:50 PM. The weather conditions, though not detailed here, should be checked before heading out, as they can significantly impact fish activity. ### Fish Activity Yesterday's fishing was excellent, especially for sturgeon in the Columbia River Gorge. However, due to the high catch rates on New Year's Day, the sturgeon fishery in the Bonneville and The Dalles pools has been closed until further notice. For those still eager to catch sturgeon, catch-and-release trips are available and can be quite thrilling[1]. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Caught While the sturgeon fishery is closed for keepers, other species like salmon, steelhead, walleye, and bass are still active. The recent extension of the salmon fisheries allowed for a good catch of chinook and coho salmon in various sections of the river. Walleye fishing has also been active, particularly in May, but they can be targeted year-round[1][3]. ### Best Lures and Bait For salmon, using lures like spinners, spoons, and plugs can be effective. For sturgeon, bait such as anchovies, herring, and squid are popular choices. Walleye can be caught using jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or minnows. Steelhead often respond well to flies, spinners, and small plugs[1][3]. ### Hot Spots The Columbia River Gorge remains one of the best spots for sturgeon and other species. For salmon, the areas around the Hood River Bridge and down to Buoy 10 have been productive. The Portland area itself offers good fishing spots, especially for walleye and bass[1][3]. If you're planning a trip, consider the tidal movements and focus on areas with structure like dock pilings or the mouths of estuaries during outgoing tides. For incoming tides, fishing the inshore tidal flats can be highly rewarding. Always check the latest fishing regulations and weather conditions before you head out. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.